Tablet personal computer transformer for portable communication device

ABSTRACT

The tablet computer transformer includes an external extension display. An extension interface is coupled to the extension display; an extension display is coupled to the control unit through the extension interface for displaying video or image from the portable communication device. It has to be noted that the portable communication device is a separated device from the external extension display when the portable communication device disconnects from the external extension display and is transformed into a tablet or pad computer when the portable communication device connects to the external extension display. The command, instruction and signal transfer are made through the extension interface. The displayed video or image is processed by the portable communication device and is displayed by the external extension display, thereby transforming the portable communication device to the tablet or pad computer after the cellular is integrated into the tablet computer transformer.

The application is a continue-in part application of Ser. No.12/852,468, filed on 7 Aug. 2010, entitled “Portable CommunicationDevice Having an Extension Display”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a tablet personal computertransformer, and especially to a tablet computer transformer for aportable communication device to transform the portable communicationdevice to a table computer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Because of the development of the information technology (IT), theinformation could be exchanged with higher capacity and faster speed.Internet is designed as an open structure to exchange information freelywithout restriction. The third generation mobile phone standard allowsthe user access video communication through air. Thus, certaincommunication service requiring real time information exchange, such asviewing live video, has become feasible through mobile phonecommunication network or Internet. Cellular communications systemstypically include multiple base stations for communicating with mobilestations in various geographical transmission areas. Each base stationprovides an interface between the mobile station and atelecommunications network. Mobile telephone systems are in use or beingdeveloped in which the geographic coverage area of the system is dividedinto smaller separate cells, it communicates with the network via afixed station located in the cell. Mobile telephones belonging to thesystem are free to travel from one cell to another. When a subscriberwithin the same system or within an external system wishes to call amobile subscriber within this system, the network must have informationon the actual location of the mobile telephone. In pace with thedevelopment of information and computer technology, the electronicproducts grow rapidly with the trend of small size, multifunction andhigh operation speed. Based on the development of cellular integrationtechnology, communication systems have also been introduced to allowusers obtain information more convenient. Thus, the business accompaniedwith the communication device flourish as well due to the development ofthe communication technology. The internet and communication serviceproviders also offer business services to assist clients to transferinformation or extend the market. The cellular manufactures have torelease new models with different appearances, function and styles morefrequently so as to attract the attention of the buyer and occupy afavorable marketing share. Communication services providers orinformation services providers also have to provide diverse,comprehensive and latest information to clients. However, signalsreceived by the communication module are presented on the display afterprocessed. The display of the conventional portable device is too smallto browse the webpage or video image, the present invention isintroduced to overcome aforementioned difficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a wirelesscommunication device with a built-in or an external extension display tobrowse webpage or image information.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tablet personalcomputer transformer.

The present invention discloses a portable communication device with anextension display including a control unit; a main display is coupled tothe control unit for displaying dial information to facilitatecommunication; an extension display is coupled to the control unit, areaof the extension display is greater than area of the main display, so asto display at least one part of webpage or image information. Theportable communication device further comprises a detecting modulecoupled to the control unit to facilitate the detection of the signal ofwebpage or image information. A switch device is coupled to the controlunit to transfer the webpage or image information to the extensiondisplay.

The extension display includes LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) display. Regarding a built-in extensiondisplay, it further comprises a storage device to store the extensiondisplay; in other example, it further comprises an extension interfaceto couple to the extension display. The aforementioned extension displaycomprises a touch display.

The tablet computer transformer includes an external extension display.An extension interface is coupled to the extension display; an extensiondisplay is coupled to the control unit through the extension interfacefor displaying video or image from the portable communication device,the display area of the extension display is greater than the area ofthe main display of the portable communication device. It has to benoted that the portable communication device is a separated device fromthe external extension display when the portable communication devicedisconnects from the external extension display and is transformed intoa tablet or pad computer when the portable communication device connectsto the external extension display. The command, instruction and signaltransfer are made through the extension interface. The displayed videoor image is processed by the portable communication device and isdisplayed by the external extension display, thereby transforming theportable communication device to the tablet or pad computer after thecellular is integrated into the tablet computer transformer. Theexternal extension display includes touch screen and a detecting modulecoupled to the control unit to facilitate the function of detection.

The tablet computer transformer further comprises a switch devicecoupled to the control unit to transfer the video or image to theexternal extension display. The external extension display may include areceiving slot or cavity formed on the back side of the tablet computertransformer having extension display to receive the portablecommunication device into the tablet computer transformer. A backuppower is provided for recharging the portable communication device or aperipheral device; a backup memory is provided as well in the tabletcomputer transformer to expend the storage space for the portablecommunication device or a peripheral device. The tablet computertransformer further comprises a processor which may perform its functionaccompany with the process of the cellular to upgrade the performance ofthe portable communication device. The tablet computer transformerfurther comprises an image capturing device. A recharging/charginginterface is also provided in the tablet computer transformer forcharging the portable communication device or a peripheral device.

The present invention discloses a tablet computer transformer system,comprises a portable communication device having a main display, atleast one wireless communication module is coupled to a network toreceive internet data including webpage, a memory to store image orvideo; and an external extension display is provided for the portablecommunication device. The tablet computer transformer comprises areceiving cavity to receive the portable communication device and acontrol unit. An extension interface is set in the receiving cavity andcoupled to the control unit; the extension display is coupled to theportable communication device through the extension interface fordisplaying the video or the image sent from the portable communicationdevice, or displaying the received internet data; wherein display areaof the extension display is greater than area of the main display of theportable communication device, the portable communication device isseparated device from the external extension display when the portablecommunication device disconnects from the tablet computer transformerand is transformed into a tablet computer when the portablecommunication device connects to the external extension display; whereinthe displayed video or image is processed by and send from the portablecommunication device or the control unit and it is displayed by theextension display, thereby transforming the portable communicationdevice to the tablet or pad computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the function diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows the storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the function diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the function diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows the function diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the function diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows the function diagram of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention can be applied to a wireless communication device,which includes, but is not limited to, a cell phone, a PDA (personaldigital assistant), or a GPS (global positioning system). In generalwireless communication systems, communication network service providersfrom different systems or regions use various communication protocols ortwo-way pager communication protocol, however, the present invention isnot limited to any kinds of protocols. The present invention discloses aTablet PC (personal computer) transformer, it refers to a computershaped in the form of a notebook or a slate with the capabilities ofbeing written on through the use of digitizing tablet technology or atouch screen.

Referring to FIG. 1, it shows a functional diagram of the wirelesscommunication device of the present invention. For simplifying thespecification, an embodiment is introduced hereinafter as anexplanation, however, it's not used to limit the present invention,namely, the present invention can be modified to facilitate to use otherdifferent kinds of communication systems or protocols without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, asingle chip system can be introduced to integrate the chips orprocessors hereinafter. The portable communication device includes acontrol unit 100, such as a CPU, which is introduced to process orcontrol the commands, information, data, and computing of the device.Memory 105, for example, ROM (read only memory), non-volatile memorysuch as flash memory and/or RAM (random access memory) is coupled to thecontrol unit 100. Generally, permanent data is stored in the ROM, andthe system operation program or application programs such as driver cangenerally be stored in the non-volatile memory which can still retainthe data stored in when power supply is unavailable and can be read orwrote repeatedly when power supply is available. The system operationprogram and application programs stored in the non-volatile memorycontrol the execution of all necessary functions and can be presented onthe main display 115 through the user interface 110 after processed bythe CPU or the control unit. An input unit 170 is coupled to the controlunit 100 to facilitate users to key in commands or data. The maindisplay 115 is a screen of a general portable communication device, suchas LCD or OLED display.

The antenna system 120 may be a multi-band antenna or composed by aplurality of antennas, according to demands. Aforementioned antenna maybe dipole antenna, plane antenna, inverted-F Antenna, fractal antenna,etc. The antenna system 120 coupled to a wireless communication module100A is introduced to receive signals, and the wireless communicationmodule 100A which is suitable for transferring information in movementmay generally include: converting signals to IF (intermediate frequency)through oscillator signals of mixing region of a receiver. The convertedsignals are modified to a bandwidth that the protocol predetermined by atransmitter, and transmitted by the antenna system. A modem is coupledto aforementioned receiver and transmitter to modulate or de-modulatesignals. Aforementioned protocol can be an audio/video wirelesscommunication protocol, which may includes, but is not limited to,International Telecommunications Unit (ITU): 3G, 3.5G, 4G, W-CDMA,CDMA2000, CDMA2001, TD-CDMA/TD-SCDMA, UWC-136, DECT. A base bandprocessor 145 which may process the signals with predetermined bandwidthand aforementioned communication protocols is coupled to the modem ofaforementioned wireless communication module 100A. A second wirelesscommunication module 100B may be introduced, which may includes, but isnot limited to, WiFi, Wimax, or 802.11 (a, b, g, n), and the secondcommunication module 100B can exist individually or together with thewireless communication module 100A. Signals processed by the base bandprocessor include control signals and audio signals, the control signalsare transmitted to the control unit 100 and the audio signals aretransmitted to a CODEC 150; a voice converter 155 is coupled to theCODEC 150 to convert the digital signals to analog signals or convertanalog signals to digital signals. A microphone 160 and a speaker 165are coupled to aforementioned voice converter 155 respectively. A SIMcard connector (not shown in the figure) is introduced to facilitate aSIM card of the system to be inserted. The SIM card can be connected tothe control unit 100 through the SIM card connector such thatinformation and password stored in the SIM card can be accessed by thecontrol unit 100. Besides, the present invention may also include adigital image capture module 200 connected to the control unit 100 tocapture images, which may be a CMOS image sensor or CCD array.

Main display of conventional portable communication device is too smallto display the webpage, such that the user has to move the webpagecontinuously, it is inconvenient to the user. The present inventionincludes a detecting unit 104 which may detect whether internet isconnected or not. If an internet package or signal is detected or thebrowser is activated, the control unit activates a switch device 102 andtransfer internet signal or all or part of the information to theextension display 185 to drive the extension display 185 to display allor part of the information, whereby facilitating to display the webpageinformation. Display area of aforementioned extension display 185 isgreater than the one of the main display, and the user can determinewhether the display is switched or not. In the case, the cellular 10 maydrive the main display and the extension display at the same time. Inthe type of built-in extension display, it may comprise a receivingdevice 188 to receive the extension display 185. Take a flexible displayas an example, such as OLED display, it can be rolled and received in astorage space, and can be drawn back to spread out the display.Aforementioned OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is also called OLED(Organic Electroluminesence Display). Advantages of OLED includeluminescence, wide view angle, high contrast, low power consumption,high response speed, full color, simplified manufacturing process, etc.The species of OLED display comprise single-color type, multi-colortype, and full-color type, etc. OLED displays can be classified asPMOLED (passive matrix OLED) and AMOLED (active matrix OLED) accordingto the differences of driven means. PLED (polymer light emitting diode)may also be introduced. Folding mechanism can be introduced to thepresent invention to facilitate the object of the present invention, andthe receiving device 188 is a folding device at this embodiment. Whenthe detecting unit 104 detects that the folding device is underoperation, then the internet signals or all or part of information istransferred to the extension display 185 for extension display. Theflexible display 300 can be fixed after it is extended. The flexibledisplay 300 may be flexible OLED rolled around the reel 305. Forreceiving the flexible display, just release it after pulling hard, andthen it will be rolled up. Generally, the reel 305 includes a spring 310rolled around a central fixed stick 306 which is configured in the reel305. Tighten the flexible display 300 which is spread out, and then alocking mechanism 315, such as ratchet 315 and detent 315 a, can beintroduced to prevent the spring 310 from being loosen when the flexibledisplay 300 is extended. But, the ratchet 315 will not clamp when theflexible display 300 is pulled suddenly, thereby loosening the spring310, such that the flexible display 300 will be rolled up.

In another embodiment, an external extension interface 186 isintroduced, please refer to FIG. 2. When the detecting unit 104 detectsan external signal, it transfers a switching signal to the switch device102, so as to transfer the internet data or signals or at least part ofinformation to the external extension display 185 to drive the display185 to display the image or video. Aforementioned “switching” can beachieved manually or automatically by the software. Aforementioneddetecting unit 104 which can be a single circuit or an integratedcircuit may obtain parameters directly or indirectly. Messages receivedby the communication device of the present invention can transfer all orpart of webpage information manually or automatically to the extensiondisplay 185 by the switch device 102 to browse the webpage.

Other embodiments are similar to aforementioned embodiments, and thedifference is described as follows. When the detecting unit 104 detectsvideo or dynamic, still image signals, such as video format, photoformat, digital TV signals or MPEG signals, the control unit 100activates the switch device 102 to switch video signals to the extensiondisplay 185. For example, a commercialized processor which can processand decode the compressed MPEG file may be introduced, such as a mediaplayer chip having H.264 codec engine. For example, the processing chipis composed by a CPU core, a media engine, a graphics processor, and avirtual mobile engine (VME). The CPU core is based on the design ofR4000 of MIPS, and comprises a floating point processor (FPU) and avector floating point processor (VFPU), such that the ability offloating point computing can reach more than 2.6 GFlops per second; themedia engine can use R4000 which is an identical one used in the CPUcore, and includes an independent embedded 2 MB memory to assist thesystem to process audio/video stream. Thus, an embedded memory which cancontrol the process of processing information by programming isintroduced to adapt to the vector process unit including H.264decompression, and various process demands such as audio process. Andthe utilization rate of the process unit may be improved by design ofaltering information process dynamically, thereby simplifying design ofthe chip and reducing lost of power. Software can also be introduced todecode or process.

Please refer to FIG. 4, it shows another example of the tablet computertransformer 2000 having extension display (EE display) 185 according tothe present invention. A control unit 402 is provided in tablet computertransformer 2000 and the portable communication device 10 may be, forexample, a cellular, media player, digital camera or digital videocamera. The tablet computer transformer 2000 having extension display185 and the portable communication device 10 are connected through theextension interface 186A set side or back of the tablet computertransformer. The cellular includes the driver to drive the externalextension display. The driver or application may be in the externalextension display 185. A backup, power (or extension power) 400 iselectrically coupled to the control unit 402 to provide power by thetablet computer transformer 2000 or it may recharge to the portablecommunication device 10 or the peripheral device, thereby extension theoperation duration of the portable communication device 10 or theperipheral device. It includes a charging interface 410 for rechargingthe external extension display 185 or tablet computer transformer 2000from outside power or to recharge the portable communication device 10or the peripheral device by the tablet computer transformer 2000. Animage capturing device, such as CMOS or CCD sensor 408 and extensionspeakers 406 are also respectively and electrically coupled to thecontrol unit 402 or/and the extension interface 186A in order totransmit the image captured by the image capturing device 408 to theremote terminal by the portable communication device 10, or output thevideo signal and/or the audio signal download by the portablecommunication device 10 to the display 185 and the speaker 406 via theextension interface 186A, thereby transforming the cellular to tabletcomputer. Extension memory 404 is electrically coupled to the controlunit 402 or/and the extension interface 186A to act as extension memoryor backup memory for the portable communication device 10. It may be aplug-in memory card or flash memory card. The external extension display185 includes a touch screen for input instruction by human fingerstouch, thereby controlling the external extension display 185 or theportable communication device 10. The touch input technologies includesresistance type, capacitance type, extra sonic type, and optical type.The present invention may relay the image or video signal to the EEdisplay 185 to transform the cellular to tablet personal computer andextend the operation duration or memory storage for the cellular,digital image capturing device or media player. FIG. 5 shows that theexternal extension display 185 includes a portable communication devicereceiving slot or cavity 414 set in the tablet computer transformer 2000to receive the portable communication device 10 into the externalextension display 185 to integrate the tablet computer transformer 2000and the cellular 10 by the extension interface 186A. In the case, theextension interface 186A is set in the receiving slot or cavity 414 toallow the almost entire portable communication device 10 may be insertedinto the receiving slot or cavity 414 for integrating with the tabletcomputer transformer 2000. In a preferred embodiment, the receiving slotor cavity 414 is set on the back side surface of the tablet computertransformer 2000 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.

The other examples are illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the examplesinclude all or part of the elements in the embodiment as aforementioned.It further includes extension processor 412 coupled to the control unit402, extension interface 186A to upgrade the device 10 to dual coreprocessor to improve the performance. FIG. 8 shows the scheme includingthe control unit and the extension processor 412. The extensionprocessor 412 includes processor 810 which is coupled with a first catch820 and a second catch 830 and they are respectively. A cross processorinterface 840 is electrically coupled to the first catch 820 and thesecond catch 830. A Memory controller 850 and a data transmissioninterface 860 are coupled to the cross processor interface 840 todetermine the data output and input to/from the control unit 100 and theprocessor 810. The present invention discloses a tablet computertransformer system to transform the cellular, media player into a tabletpersonal computer. The data may be processed by the cellular, mediaplayer or the extension display. The image, video or internet data aretransferred from the cellular, media player to the external extensiondisplay to allow the user may browse the webpage and watch the video bythe external extension display having larger display area. In anothercase, the second wireless communication module 100B may be coupled tothe extension interface 186A to achieve wireless transmission. Under thecase, the extension interface 186A fulfills the requirement of thewireless transmission protocol and specification.

Aforementioned units and modules can be combined arbitrarily accordingto demands. As will be understood by persons skilled in the art, theforegoing preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrativeof the present invention rather than limiting the present invention.Having described the invention in connection with a preferredembodiment, modification will now suggest itself to those skilled in theart. Thus, the invention is not to be limited to this embodiment, butrather the invention is intended to cover various modifications andsimilar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of theappended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similarstructures. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changescan be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A tablet computer transformer for a portable communication device fortransforming said portable communication device to a tablet computercomprising: an extension interface; an extension display coupled to saidportable communication device through said extension interface fordisplaying video or image from said portable communication device; atouching screen coupled to said extension display for a user inputinstruction from said extension display to said portable communicationdevice through said extension interface; wherein display area of saidextension display is greater than one of a main display of said portablecommunication device, said portable communication device transforming tosaid tablet computer when said portable communication device connects tosaid extension display through said extension interface; wherein saiddisplayed video or image is transferred from said portable communicationdevice and is displayed by said extension display, thereby transformingsaid portable communication device to said tablet computer.
 2. Thetablet computer transformer according to claim 1, wherein said tabletcomputer transformer comprises a detecting module coupled to a controlunit of said tablet computer transformer to facilitate detectionfunction.
 3. The tablet computer transformer according to claim 1,wherein said tablet computer transformer comprises a switch devicecoupled to a control unit of said tablet computer transformer totransfer said video or image to said extension display.
 4. The tabletcomputer transformer according to claim 1, wherein said tablet computertransformer includes a receiving slot or cavity to receive said portablecommunication device in to said tablet computer transformer.
 5. Thetablet computer transformer according to claim 1, wherein said tabletcomputer transformer comprises a backup power for charging said portablecommunication device or a peripheral device.
 6. The tablet computertransformer according to claim 1, wherein said tablet computertransformer comprises a backup memory for extension storage space forsaid portable communication device or a peripheral device.
 7. The tabletcomputer transformer according to claim 1, wherein said tablet computertransformer includes a processor coupled with said extension interfaceto upgrade said portable communication device.
 8. The tablet computertransformer according to claim 1, wherein said tablet computertransformer includes an image capturing device.
 9. The tablet computertransformer according to claim 1, wherein said tablet computertransformer includes a recharging/charging interface for said portablecommunication device or a peripheral device.
 10. The tablet computertransformer according to claim 1, wherein said extension interfaceincludes wireless transmission protocol and specification.
 11. A tabletcomputer transformer system, comprising: a portable communication devicehaving a main display, at least one wireless communication module tocouple to a network to receive internet data, a memory to store image orvideo; and a tablet computer transformer having an extension display; areceiving cavity to receive said portable communication device into saidtablet computer transformer; an extension interface set in saidreceiving cavity; an extension display coupled to said portablecommunication device through said extension interface for displayingsaid video or said image sent from said portable communication device,or displaying said received internet data; wherein display area of saidextension display is greater than area of said main display of saidportable communication device, said portable communication devicetransforming into a tablet computer when said portable communicationdevice connects to said external extension display; wherein saiddisplayed video or image is transferred from said portable communicationdevice and is displayed by said extension display.
 12. The tabletcomputer transformer system according to claim 11, wherein said tabletcomputer transformer comprises a detecting module coupled to a controlunit of said tablet computer transformer to facilitate detectionfunction.
 13. The tablet computer transformer system according to claim11, wherein said tablet computer transformer comprises a switch devicecoupled to a control unit of said tablet computer transformer totransfer said video or image to said extension display.
 14. The tabletcomputer transformer system according to claim 11, wherein said tabletcomputer transformer comprises a backup power for charging said portablecommunication device or a peripheral device.
 15. The tablet computertransformer system according to claim 11, wherein said tablet computertransformer comprises a backup memory for extension storage space forsaid portable communication device or a peripheral device.
 16. Thetablet computer transformer system according to claim 11, wherein saidtablet computer transformer includes a processor coupled with saidextension interface to upgrade said portable communication device. 17.The tablet computer transformer system according to claim 11, whereinsaid tablet computer transformer includes an image capturing device. 18.The tablet computer transformer system according to claim 11, whereinsaid tablet computer transformer includes a recharging/charginginterface for said portable communication device or a peripheral device.19. The tablet computer transformer system according to claim 11,wherein said extension interface includes wireless transmission protocoland specification.